With Greater Pittsburgh International Airport so close to Butler County, many people here do not reflect on the economic importance of the Butler County Airport.

But they should.

As a front-page article in the Dec. 11 Butler Eagle reported, the local airport is by no means a small-time operation. In fact, based on a study conducted last year, the local airport ranks seventh in economic impact out of the more than 100 general aviation airports in the state.

It might seem unfathomable to some, but the airport generates $39 million annually.

That amount is divided between on-airport businesses and off-airport items like visitor spending. Also included in the total are indirect items, such as airport employees’ local spending.

According to the study, 228 people are employed as a result of the airport’s presence, with a combined payroll of about $9.2 million.

The airport is home to seven corporate jets, and jet traffic overall has increased significantly as the Marcellus Shale gas industry has expanded in the county. The 2005 runway extension helped make some of the additional traffic possible.

The convenience of a smaller airport with a runway appropriate for corporate jets has shifted some small-jet traffic from Pittsburgh International, benefiting the county airport and local economy.

People travel through bustling Cranberry Township and the growing Cranberry-to-Mars corridor and find it easy to acknowledge what that growth means to the county’s overall economic well-being.

But they are not so quick to consider how much a facility such as the county airport means from an economic standpoint, not only at the airport itself but beyond.

The aviation support industry, such as parts manufacturing, as well as air cargo, are some of the off-airport revenues tied to the facility.

Meanwhile, on-airport revenues are generated by the rental of hangar space, business conducted by the airport’s fixed-base operator, and the airport’s restaurant.

When it is noted what airports are ahead of the Butler County air facility, people here can appreciate the facility’s economic standing. The only general aviation airports having a greater economic impact than the local one are Allegheny County, Northeast Philadelphia, Reading Regional, Chester County, Washington County and Harrisburg’s Capital City.

The state’s major airports, such as Pittsburgh International, are in a separate category outside the 116-airport general aviation grouping.

Greatly benefiting Butler County Airport is its convenient location near one of the state’s fastest-growing areas. Also of benefit is airport leaders’ commitment to running a top-notch facility — from the standpoint of facility maintenance and modernization, as well as service.

Butler County Airport is a transportation asset meriting pride. It deserves more recognition for its positive impact on the county’s economy than it generally receives.

Perhaps the latest aviation study will bring about the deserved awareness.